Portable container



`Sheets-Sheet l LQ Y m,

Mwah 3L, 11.93@ R. J. LEWIS PORTABLE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 18, 1934 mm un uw Mdm EL, 3%., R. J. Lam/gs PEE PORTABLE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 31, 1936 irse sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relat-es to portable containers and has for its object to provide a container that is simple in construction and which is electrically operated either by A. C. or D. C. current, and which can be driven in any direction.

The invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of the parts and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth in the following specifications and pointed out in detail in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure l is an enlarged detail vertical longitudinal section of one of the rollers and the operative parts thereof.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of my improved container.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View of Figure 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, I designates the container, which may be of any suitable size, and which is provided with the sliding doors 2 in the side thereof. On the under side of the container are mounted two electric motors 3 and 4 one for A. C. current and the other for D. C. current. The sockets 5 and 6 are so constructed the same plug will not t each one. The shafts of each of the motors 3 and 4 are provided with sprocket wheels l each of which latter is connected by a chain 8 to a sprocket wheel on the shafts 9. The said shafts 9 are driven by said motors 3 and 4 either by A. C', or D. C. current, according to which is available at the location where the containers are being used. Mounted under the four corners of the container I are the casters, or rollers, each comprising two wheels It each splined to one of the differential shafts II. Keyed on the inner ends of each of the shafts II is a gear wheel I2, I2, each of which latter meshes with the small gear wheels I3. These two small gear wheels I3 are each revolubly mounted in the sleeve I4 of the gear wheel I5 and diametrically opposite each other. This construction forms a differential and permits the wheels I0 to revolve at different speeds when turning on a curve. The gear Wheel I5 is loosely mounted on the shafts II and the sleeve I4 projects into and revolves in the yoke I6 on the lower end of the shaft I7. The said gear wheel I5 is in mesh with a gear on the lower end of the sleeve I8 which latter is revolubly mounted on I5 the shaft I'I and has a worm wheel I9 integral therewith at its upper end and is in mesh with the Worm 2li on the shaft 9. A worm wheel 2l is splined to the shaft II and meshes with the Worm 22 on the shaft 23. The said shafts 23 each ex- 10 tend across the ends of the carrier and are mounted in the bearings 24 and each has a sprocket wheel 25 on one end to which is connected a chain 26. Said chain 26 connects the sprocket wheel 25 with a sprocket on the wheel 15 27 which latter serves to turn the shaft I1 and consequently the wheels I 0 to guide the container I. Also splned to the shaft I'I is a head 28 held to the said shaft I'I by the nut 29. The said head 28 is held to the said shaft I'I by the 20 nut 29. The said head 28 is held to the plate 35 by means of the collar 3l which is screwed to the ange 32 of said plate 30, and revolves therein. 'I'he rollers or casters are secured to the under side of the container at the four corners 25 thereof by bolts passing through the plates 30.

The container is driven along by one or the other of the motors 3 or 4 according to the kind of current available where it is being used, and is guided by one or the other of the hand 30 wheels 21.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

A caster for portable containers comprising two wheels, two shafts on the outer ends of which 35 said wheels are mounted, a gear Wheel mounted on the inner end of each of said shafts, a shaft having a yoke on its lower end, a gear wheel mounted in said yoke and having a sleeve on one side thereof, two small gear wheels carried 40 by said sleeve and in mesh with the gear-wheels on the inner end of said shaft, a sleeve surrounding the stem of said yoke and having a gear on its lower end in mesh with the gear wheel mounted in said yoke and a worm wheel on its 45 upper end, and means for turning said Worm wheel and consequently the said caster Wheels.

ROBERT J. LEWIS. 

